Tamil Nadu Police have succeeded in thwarting another drug trafficking network between Indian and Sri Lankan following the arrest of two persons who were to smuggle large quantities of cannabis to Sri Lanka via the sea route.
The district ‘D-team’ constituted exclusively to deal with drug traffickers and maintain surveillance on former offenders busted the new drug trafficking network after arresting two accused. It has also launched a hunt for three others, including two persons from Kerala.
A day after the Organised Crime Intelligence Unit seized 90 kg of ganja from the house of M. Azhagarsami (75) at a coastal hamlet near Uchipuli on Thursday, the ‘D team’ coordinated with the unit and arrested two persons who were to smuggle the contraband to Sri Lanka via the sea route.
Police identified the accused as Maiazhagu and Samidurai, who had handed over the contraband to Azhagarsami . He was arrested by the Uchipuli police. They were produced before a magistrate court and remanded to judicial custody.
The local smugglers, who were so far dependent on ‘sources’ in the island nation for carrying out smuggling activities, appeared to have established their own network as Bakiaraj from Danushkodi, an important link in the network, had gone to Sri Lanka to receive the contraband, Superintendent of Police N.M. Mylvahanan has said.
More details could be ascertained after the arrest of Bakiaraj on his return from Sri Lanka. The police are likely to issue a Lookout Circular against him and alert immigration officials at the airports, police said.
Two persons – from Kerala, who formed part of the network were absconding and the ‘D Team’ is after them, the SP said. A local boatman who was to carry the contraband to the high seas was also under the police scanner, Mr. Mylvahanan said.
The three local accused, including Bakiaraj and the two from Kerala, became friends while imprisoned in Madurai Central Prison after being arrested in connection with different crimes. The Keralites had served a jail term after they were arrested under the Bootleggers Act for selling rectified spirit at Othakadai in Dindigul district, the SP said.
Source: The Hindu
